JC Basketball: MC men lose second straight

ROSWELL, N.M. -- The Midland College men’s basketball team allowed a 13-point halftime lead to slip away in a 96-87 loss to New Mexico Military Institute on Saturday afternoon.

The Chaparrals (11-7, 2-1 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference) led 49-36 at the half before NMMI (8-6, 2-2) roared back as the Broncos made the hustle plays and beat MC on the boards in the second half. For the game, the Broncos out-rebounded MC 51-28, which left MC coach Jordan Dreiling shellshocked.

“They just outworked us,” said Dreiling, whose team has dropped two straight WJCAC games. “They got two, three shots on every possession. In the first half (the Broncos) shot 29 percent, but in the second half they shot almost 64 percent. They just wanted it more than we did.”

Torren Jones led MC with a game-high 25 points, Quay King had 22 and Tyler Whitehead added 22.

NMMI was led by Dane Williams with 21, Marc Seyland and Haudrick Hilaire each had 13 and Andre Berry chipped in with 12.

MC hopes to break out of its slump at 7:45 p.m. Monday when it hosts Western Texas College in another WJCAC game at Chaparral Center.